28 November 2000, Toronto: The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada (BTAC) has announced that their annual trade show ExpoCycle 2001 will take place in Toronto at the Toronto Congress Centre on September 16-18, 2001. (Editor's Note: a change from the previously planned September 23-26)

The move from the current location at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (downtown) back to the Toronto Congress Centre (airport) was prompted by dealers and suppliers requests to have less expensive accommodation and for overall travel cost reductions. "After consulting with a lot of people involved in the bike industry we made the decision to go back to the Toronto Congress Centre where the show was held in 1998." stated Janet O'Connell, the new executive director for BTAC. "The airport area of Toronto provides us with a hotel selection that is top quality but less expensive (than downtown), and that is important for a dealer who is bringing several staff members to ExpoCycle. We are still working on the concept of holding ExpoCycle in Montreal for 2002 and are researching facilities that can accommodate the amount of exhibit space we require." O'Connell added.

2001 will mark the first year that BTAC is producing ExpoCycle independently (previously run by CSGA for BTAC) and will be focussed 100% on the cycling industry. "Now that we have our own executive director to run the show we are focusing on the areas most important to the retail bike dealers across Canada," said Peter Monk, President of BTAC and Paris Glove Canada. Through a consultation with the industry BTAC plans to develop a solid show program that will deliver dealers the new products they want to see and provide an educational experience that will be worth the time to bring staff to the show.

The dates of ExpoCycle 2001 are prior to Interbike, Las Vegas by ten days and will allow suppliers the time to move new product between the two events. Suppliers have indicated that ExpoCycle being held prior to Interbike will not stop them from having new products at the show to introduce in the Canadian market. "My task, through promotions is to let the dealers know that new products will be at ExpoCycle and it will be worth the trip!" O'Connell stated.

The Bicycle Trade Association of Canada is a non-profit trade association working to promote the bicycle industry, service its members and facilitate their business operations. Programs and services offered by BTAC include ExpoCycle 2001, National Bicycle Mechanic Certification Program, Cycling Safety Committee, Canadian Mountain Biking Advocacy, and Canadian Bicycle Industry Participation Statistics.